[p]Hey folks, things are going well with the new demo and we are hard at work preparing for release.[/p][p]We are planning to do another demo update next month to bring across many other improvements and changes (there's quite a few).[/p][p]In the meantime we just wanted to share some recent improvements to the research tree.[/p][p][/p][h3]
Important: Some of these changes are NOT live in the current demo.[/h3][p][/p][h2]Let's take a
deeper look![/h2][p]Just a quick reminder, the best way you can currently support the game is:[/p]
- [p]Wishlist it.[/p]
- [p]Let your favorite YouTuber/Streamer know about the game.[/p]
[p][/p][h2]Upgrade Research[/h2][p]If you've already played the new demo you may already have noticed this change.[/p][p]Previously we had upgrades in groups, which functionally worked okay, but it wasn't clear enough to the player. It also added some confusion as to what the tiers of upgrades meant.[/p][p]
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[/p][p]Now upgrades are individual items that you research. Straight forward, and simple. The end result is still similar (you unlock the upgrade which you can construct at a building.[/p][p][/p][h2]Search Feature[/h2][p]Something we have added to an internal build is a search feature. The research tree is pretty big, so being able to search for something is just neat![/p][p]
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[/p][p][/p][h3]Upgrade Types[/h3][p]Upgrades are evolving as we go and we are adding/removing them based on what feels good. So far there are a few typical types of upgrades[/p]
- [p]Upgrades that unlock recipes at the building.[/p]
- [p]Upgrades that improve capacity of the building (more processing slots)[/p]
- [p]Upgrades that improve efficiency of the building.[/p]
- [p]Upgrades that add features to the building (e.g. a Snow Catcher for the Advanced Rain Collector)[/p]
[p][/p][h3]More Features[/h3][p]There's a few other features we want to experiment with that would also be nice, but they aren't a high priority at the moment and may come in early access.[/p]
- [p]Ability to zoom in/out on the research tree.[/p]
- [p]Ability to queue up research.[/p]
[p][/p][h2]Your Feedback[/h2][p]Many of the improvements are thanks to your feedback,
so please keep it coming. If you have any ideas for the types of upgrades you like, or your top QoL requests for the research tree, be sure to let us know![/p][p][/p][h2]What's Next?[/h2][p]We will be announcing our official release date very soon, and are working around the clock to have the game ready in a good state for release into Early Access.[/p][h2][/h2][p]----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/p][p][/p][h2]
Translations[/h2][p]Work on translations will take place during Early Access, and the initial EA launch will be in English. As development progresses we plan to add support for community translations.[/p][p][/p][p]This approach allows us to iterate quickly on systems, UI, and story as the game evolves, and has worked well for many Early Access titles (such as Stardew Valley, Subnautica, Oxygen Not Included, RimWorld, and Satisfactory) that also started with English first.[/p][p][/p][p]If you're interested in contributing, please let us know here or on Discord![/p][p][/p][p]----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/p][p][/p][h3]Controller & Steam Deck Support[/h3][p]Some players have already played on the Steam Deck, but we don't have official support just yet. We do plan to have it fully playable on the Steam Deck further into development
(and we have our Steam Deck ready to test!)[/p][p][/p][p]Controller support is challenging for this type of game that has this much depth, and we don't want the gameplay to be limited by controller inputs. Our plan is to look into this once we have all of our features in to see what is possible. We have good experience implementing controllers and it is on our mind during development, but we are also aware of the limitations.[/p][p][/p][h3]Found a Bug?[/h3][p]Please report them! Whether it's a typo or something more significant please let us know via the forums or via Discord.[/p][p][/p][h3]If Somethings Needs Better Tutorials[/h3][p]There is a lot of depth in the game and we already have a heap of tutorials shown in the handbook. We do have more tutorials planned so if you find something is not explained well enough or are still confused about anything, be sure to let us know.[/p][p][/p][h3]
Come have a chat![/h3][p]Our community is growing, and everyone has been amazing and really friendly. Come chat with the devs and other players in our
Discord[/p][p][/p][h2]Leaving Feedback[/h2][p]If you encounter any bugs, or would love to discuss features please do so via the Steam forums or our Discord. It's really helpful to know about the parts of the game you enjoy, as well as anything you don't.[/p][p][/p][p]You can also check discord for a list of known bugs, community suggestions and upcoming plans![/p][p][/p][p] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[/p][h3]⚡ Be sure to Wishlist Oceaneers, and stay tuned for the next dev diary and more announcements. ❤️[/h3][p]
[/p][h3]Join Us![/h3][p]Join our discord to discuss the game and share your ideas!
Join discord here----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some recent Dev Diaries in case you missed them:[/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]